J-Curve Case Study

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J-Curve : Bilateral Trade between India and BRCS

Exchange rate is a highly crucial factor in determining a country’s growth, provided we are referring to an open-economy. Putting it simply, it acts as an indicator as to how an economy fares with respect to other economies. It determines both, the external position as well as the growth.
The topic here aims to find out if there exists a J-Curve relationship for trade between India and the BRCS (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) Nations. The effect of exchange rate in an economy is not single fold, but multi-fold. It impacts the investment, business and many policy decisions. Any volatility in the exchange rate creates uncertainty in the real prices of goods and services.
The relationship …show more content…

The price effect is due to the change in the terms of trade or relative prices whereas the quantity effect relates to a change in the volume of real good and services. Our economic theory states that the quantity effect dominates the price effect resulting in instantaneous adjustment. However, in the real world, adjustments are not instantaneous. Thus, in the short-run, as a country devalues its currency , the price effect dominates, with a rise in import price and a fall in export price causing trade balance to worsen further. In the long-run, the adjustment of economic agents within the country devaluing its currency, causes exports to rise and imports to fall causing trade balance to improve. Thus, the presence of J-curve effect.
The rationale behind the J-curve is that import prices respond immediately to exchange rate changes, while import and export volumes adjust in a relaxed manner to the movements in relative prices. Thus, the initial effect of depreciation on the trade balance is “perverse” if import value increases more than export value increase. However, in the long-run, the trade balance will improve when import and export volumes adjust to the higher (lower) import (export)

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